Stryker Corporation announced that Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (referred to as "Stryker Orthopaedics"), a subsidiary of Stryker Corporation, and Court-appointed committees of attorneys representing Rejuvenate Modular-Neck and ABG II Modular-Neck plaintiffs in New Jersey Multicounty and Federal Multidistrict litigations reached an agreement to compensate additional eligible U.S. patients who had surgery to replace their Rejuvenate Modular-Neck hip stem and/or ABG II Modular-Neck hip stem, known as a revision surgery, prior to December 19, 2016. This follows an initial 2014 Settlement Program that covered patients who had a revision surgery prior to November 3, 2014. In that initial program, over 95% of eligible patients enrolled. Under this new agreement, additional patients are now eligible to participate and may apply for compensation.

The Settlement Agreement will help bring to a close significant Rejuvenate Modular-Neck and ABG II Modular-Neck litigation activity in the U.S. However, some lawsuits will remain and Stryker Orthopaedics will continue to defend against remaining claims. For more information about the Settlement Program, please visit strykermodularhipsettlement.com.

Based on the information that has been received to date, no additional charge to earnings is being recorded in connection with entering into the Settlement Agreement. The final outcome of this matter is dependent on many variables that are difficult to predict. The ultimate cost to entirely resolve this matter may be materially different than the amount of the current estimate. It is expected that a majority of the payments under the Settlement Agreement will be made by the end of 2017.